Over-cap for a pressurized dispenser



1965 R. H. ABPLANALP 3,

OVER-CAP FOR A PRESSURIZED DISPENSER Filed March 17. 1964 INVENTOR.ROBERT HENRY 14am mm LP United States Patent 3,215,317 OVER-CAP FOR APRESSURIZED DISPENSER Robert Henry Abplanalp, Hewitt Ave., Bronxville,N.Y. Filed Mar. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 352,613 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-182) Thisinvention is an over-cap adapted to be associated with a pressurizeddispenser of the kind which embodies a container on which is mounted amanually operable dispensing valve provided with a valve stem to beactuated by a valve operating member on the over-cap to dischargematerial from the container through such cap.

Moreover, the over-cap of this invention is of the type wherein thevalve operating member thereof is in the form of a tab fitted over thevalve stem and having integral, pivotal connection with respect to theremainder of the over-cap.

The object of the invention is to provide an over-cap of novelconstruction embodying a top wall which extends downwardly and inwardlyfrom the peripheral wall of the cap and is provided with and merges intoa depressed recess. The over-cap is also provided in its top with anopening in which the valve operating tab is pivotally mounted.

More specifically the object of this invention is to provide an over-capwhich will permit of stacking while protecting the tab from inadvertentoperation and also provide easy and convenient access of a personsfinger to the tab when the container is held in the hand and it isdesired to dispense material from such container.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will beapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims,when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of theinvention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood isillustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross section through an over-cap embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation looking from the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevation looking from the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view looking from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

The over-cap of this invention is preferably in the form of a plasticinjection molding. It comprises a peripheral wall 1 and an inner wall 2,the latter of which is provided at its lower edge with an inturnedportion or flange 3 adapted to grip a portion of a pressurized can,shown in the drawing as the curled marginal edge 4 of the mounting cup5, which forms part of the upper wall of the can 6, in order to supportthe over-cap on said can. The mounting cup 5 carries the usual valvehaving an upstanding valve stem 7. The can shown in phantom in thedrawings in FIG. 1 is conventional.

The over-cap has a top wall 8 which is integral with the upper end ofthe peripheral wall 1. This top wall 8 has an exposed concave surfacewhich is preferably shaped to correspond substantially to a portion of aspherical surface. At one side of the over-cap, the top wall 8 mergesinto a concave recess 9, closed at its sides and bottom by a wall 10.The top wall and the recess ice have formed therein an opening 11 inwhich is positioned a valve operating tab 12.

The tab 12 has at one end a narrow hinge connection 13 which supportsthe tab for pivotal movement and the under side of the tab has a hubprovided with a socket 14 adapted to snugly receive the upper end of thevalve stem 7. A discharge duct 15 leads from the socket 14 to theexterior of the cap.

In the preferred form of this invention this discharge duct leads to adischarge outlet 16 at the peripheral wall 1 of the cap. Material may bedischarged to the atmosphere when the valve operating tab 12 ispivotally depressed to lower the valve stem 7, with consequent openingof the valve. The flow of material from the interior of the can isthrough the valve stem 7, said duct 15, and discharge outlet 16.

The top wall 8 of the over-cap has a peripheral flat edge and is madeconcave so that the valve operating tab lies below the plane of saidperipheral edge and is protected against inadvertent operation when suchcontainers are stacked. Furthermore, the tab is inclined so that itslower edge forms a substantial continuation of the wall 10 at the baseof the recess 9. This recess thus serves to effectually guide the fingerof an operator as it is introduced into cooperative relation with thetab, while the can is held in the hand of the user.

In practice, the transverse shape of the recess 9 is concave and theupper surface of the tab preferably forms a continuation of thisconcavity. It is convenient and preferred to make the concave surfacesof the recess and tab substantially in the form of a portion ofcylinderical surface, so that the finger is guided smoothly anduninterruptedly by the recess into cooperative relation with the tab. Itwill be noted that the upper surface of the tab is free and unencumberedby protuberances so that it embodies no obstruction to the finger of theoperator.

The over-cap of this invention, constructed as described, is highlyconvenient for operation when the hand of the operator holds the can forhis or her finger falls naturally into the recess and into cooperativerelation with the tab.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood asfully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An over-cap for pressurized dispensers comprising: an upstandingperipheral wall surmounted by a concave top wall provided at one side ofthe over-cap with a transversely concave recess having a closed bottom,there being formed an opening in the tap wall extending into saidrecess, and a valve operating tab provided with a socket to receive thevalve stem of the container with a passage leading from said socketthrough the peripheral wall to the exterior of the over-cap, said valveoperating tab having an integral pivotal connection with the remainderof the over-cap to permit pivotal movement of said tab for the purposeof operating the valve stem of the container.

2. An over-cap according to claim 1, wherein the tab and the closedbottom of the recess are in sloping rela- 3,215,317 3 4 tion to theremainder of the over-cap and the top surface a continuation of oneanother and are shaped to subof the tab transversely substantiallyconforms to the lower stantially embody a portion of the surface of acylinder. portion of the concave configuration of the recess.

3. An over-cap according to claim 1, wherein the upstanding wall isprovided at its lower end with means for 5 mounting the cap on thecontainer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,058,626 10/62Hibbs et al. 222l82 4. An over-cap accordlng to claim 2, wherein the up-3 140 014 7 /64 Lerner 222 182 per concave surface of the top wallembodies substantially 3:143:254 8/64 'fl fig X a portion of the surfaceof a sphere while the transverse shape of both the recess and valveoperating tab form 10 LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

1. AN OVER-CAP FOR PRESSURIZED DISPENSERS COMPRISING: AN UPSTANDINGPERIPHERAL WALL SURMOUNTED BY A CONCAVE TOP WALL PROVIDED AT ONE SIDE OFTHE OVER-CAP WITH A TRANSVERSELY CONCAVE RECESS HAVING A CLOSED BOTTOM,THERE BEING FORMED AN OPENING IN THE TAP WALL EXTENDING INTO SAIDRECESS, AND A VALVE OPERATING TAB PROVIDED WITH A SOCKET TO RECEIVE THEVALVE STEM OF THE CONTAINER WITH A PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID SOCKETTHROUGH THE PERIPHERAL WALL TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE OVER-CAP, SAID VALVEOPERATING TAB HAVING AN INTEGRAL PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH THE REMAINDEROF THE OVER-CAP TO PERMIT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID TAB FOR THE PURPOSEOF OPERATING THE VALVE STEM OF THE CONTAINER.